Shifting Perspective

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."- Colossians 3:2  
  
The people of Israel, during their captivity in Babylon, spent 50 years focused on the devastation caused by King Nebuchadnezzar. He was the leader who invaded their homeland, destroyed Jerusalem, and took them into exile.  

For years, their minds were set on the pain and suffering they endured at the hands of their enemy. But there’s an interesting point in the story that many of us might overlook. While verse 1 of Jeremiah 29 says that Nebuchadnezzar “had taken” them into exile, verse 4 reveals that the Lord “sent” them into exile. These two perspectives aren’t contradictory; they represent two sides of the same situation.  

Often, when we face difficulties, we get caught up in asking “Why?” Why am I going through this? Why is this happening to me? We search for a natural answer, a person or situation to blame. But sometimes, like the Israelites, we miss the spiritual answer. Yes, Nebuchadnezzar played a role, but it was ultimately God who allowed the situation to happen. This doesn’t mean that God delights in our suffering, but rather, that He uses circumstances — even painful ones — to accomplish His will.
 
When we focus only on the natural, we can get stuck in bitterness or frustration. But reframing the situation spiritually opens us up to seeing God’s hand at work, even in our struggles. It’s not always about punishment or failure. Sometimes, God allows challenges to shape us, to redirect us, or to grow us in ways we wouldn’t otherwise.  

Reframing is about shifting our perspective. Instead of seeing our struggles as purely negative, we can begin to look for God’s purpose in them. What might He be teaching you? How could this season be an opportunity for growth, or even for something new? As Philippians 4:8 encourages us, when we choose to set our minds on what is good, true, and worthy of praise, we start to see things differently.  

Whatever challenge you’re facing today, take a moment to reframe it. Look not at what your enemy is doing, but at what God is doing. Consider how He might be working, even in the midst of your pain, to bring about something greater. Trust that there’s more happening than what you can see right now. Keep your eyes on Him, and don’t lose hope.